Can the protagonist be someone you laugh at but also someone who does bad stuff occasionally if it's SOMEWHAT warranted as a result of the antagonist's actions?
Protaonists in comedies
- Thread starter GonnaBeFamous
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Define bad.
Is stealing wrong?
Yes, but if you steal a car (or the antags car) to escape then the audience will understand.
If the bad thing that the protag does is funny and doesn't cause serious harm to anyone then we will accept it.
BUT if the protag steps across a line and becomes worse then the antag it will be a problem. The two cannot switch roles.
Is stealing wrong?
Yes, but if you steal a car (or the antags car) to escape then the audience will understand.
If the bad thing that the protag does is funny and doesn't cause serious harm to anyone then we will accept it.
BUT if the protag steps across a line and becomes worse then the antag it will be a problem. The two cannot switch roles.
scripter1 said:
Right now it's more of a comedy-drama becasue I have the protagonist get angry and push the antagonist stirring a fight because he had become drug addicted, and so jealous and angry by what she had done to him over the course in the movie. Appropriate or should I try and wing a new way for a climax? (right now I don't have any ideas, although the car stealing stealing might be actually funny, but not sure yet if I want to try an alternate route until i get input).
Help is definitely appreciated.
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I don't see how you can have a protagonist become a drug addict and yet keep it as a comedy, even if infused with drama.
But if you can pull it off, more power to ya.
I had a similar problem trying to write a comedy but with a wrapped element of a tragic death and most people found the death and the drama associated with it way over shadowed any comedy in the script.
But if you can pull it off, more power to ya.
I had a similar problem trying to write a comedy but with a wrapped element of a tragic death and most people found the death and the drama associated with it way over shadowed any comedy in the script.
Joe Calabrese said:
Because of his goofy personality, how he becomes drug addicted, and what he allows the antagonist to do to him in his pursuit of the antagonist. What do you think?
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Well if the drug makes him act funny and not pathetic and if the drug itself is not bringing him to the brink of death and is a harmless and wacky, perhaps a make believe drug-- then maybe.
I personally don't find anything funny about a heroin addict, but a fall down drunk, perhaps, but not as the hero.
I mean, if Leaving Las Vegas or Barfly had comedy in it and Micckey Rorke or Nick Cage were doing prat falls, would it be funny? I dunno.
I personally don't find anything funny about a heroin addict, but a fall down drunk, perhaps, but not as the hero.
I mean, if Leaving Las Vegas or Barfly had comedy in it and Micckey Rorke or Nick Cage were doing prat falls, would it be funny? I dunno.
Joe Calabrese said:
Hmmm then It sounds like I have two antagonists in a movie. I think the movie is funny at times, but serious occasionally. If i get rid of the drug thing that still doesn't solve the problem of him causing a fight during the climax and the drug use is a main drive of the movie too. I'm not sure what to do.
Joe Calabrese said:
A make believe drug? I don't know if I could pull that off that would turn it into a fantasy.
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Could be worse. Would you want to see your son or daughter become an addict?
Drug use would automaticaly give you a PG13. A teen comedy that is rated R or a strong pg13 would be suicide to a producer.
Drug use would automaticaly give you a PG13. A teen comedy that is rated R or a strong pg13 would be suicide to a producer.
Joe Calabrese said:
Porky's and thousands of other teen comedies survived with an R, then again they don't glorify drug use like I did.
I'm almost tempted to just leave it as it is. I think the script is good even though it's almost like the antagonist and protagonist start to switch roles. Can that be possible if it's induced by drug use? Have you ever seen a movie wehre the roles switch and it was justified?
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I think some good examples of protag's doing very antagonistic things would be the movies of the Farrelly Brothers.
Kingpin - Woody Harrelson demeans, cheats and swindles an innocent Amish dude, yet he's obviously the protagonist...
Dumb and Dumber - Jim Carrey mickies Jeff Daniels' drink with enough laxative to dry out the Mojave, yet he's one of the two lead protagonists...
Me, Myself and Irene - Jim Carrey spends half his screen time as a rude, obnoxious, hateful, insensitive and violent *******, yet he AND his alter ego are still the protagonists...
There's Something About Mary - Ben Stiller deceives, lies to and tricks the love of his life (though his intentions were spurred by love is no excuse) yet he's still the protagonist.
So I think it's quite possible to have a protag in a comedy who is overly antagonistic (another case in point, and one of the best: Jack Nicholson in As Good As It Gets) and still be able to laugh at him and consider him the good guy.
Kingpin - Woody Harrelson demeans, cheats and swindles an innocent Amish dude, yet he's obviously the protagonist...
Dumb and Dumber - Jim Carrey mickies Jeff Daniels' drink with enough laxative to dry out the Mojave, yet he's one of the two lead protagonists...
Me, Myself and Irene - Jim Carrey spends half his screen time as a rude, obnoxious, hateful, insensitive and violent *******, yet he AND his alter ego are still the protagonists...
There's Something About Mary - Ben Stiller deceives, lies to and tricks the love of his life (though his intentions were spurred by love is no excuse) yet he's still the protagonist.
So I think it's quite possible to have a protag in a comedy who is overly antagonistic (another case in point, and one of the best: Jack Nicholson in As Good As It Gets) and still be able to laugh at him and consider him the good guy.
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Comedies with feature protags who use/abuse drugs and/or alochol:
Animal House
Caddyshack
Pretty much any Kevin Smith movie which features Jay and Silent Bob
Scary Movie series
Airplane (though his "drinking problem" was actually a pun)
Friday/Next Friday/Friday After Next
A tremendous amount of teen comedies from the 80s
Just to name a few.
Incidentally, I wouldn't wait for input to determine your ending. Write the ending you want, then if you don't feel right about it, post some pages for input. No sense in having the opinions of dozens of people with different senses of humor determining how YOUR comedy should end, at least not before it's even done.
Animal House
Caddyshack
Pretty much any Kevin Smith movie which features Jay and Silent Bob
Scary Movie series
Airplane (though his "drinking problem" was actually a pun)
Friday/Next Friday/Friday After Next
A tremendous amount of teen comedies from the 80s
Just to name a few.
Incidentally, I wouldn't wait for input to determine your ending. Write the ending you want, then if you don't feel right about it, post some pages for input. No sense in having the opinions of dozens of people with different senses of humor determining how YOUR comedy should end, at least not before it's even done.
Boo_Radley said:Comedies with feature protags who use/abuse drugs and/or alochol:
Animal House
Caddyshack
Pretty much any Kevin Smith movie which features Jay and Silent Bob
Scary Movie series
Airplane (though his "drinking problem" was actually a pun)
Friday/Next Friday/Friday After Next
A tremendous amount of teen comedies from the 80s
Just to name a few.
Ok, but mine is more of a serious tone at times, mixed in with pure hilarity. Should I get rid of my climax to a more softer one, which is originally the protagonist pushing the antagonist which causes a verbal fight to ensue and then their permanent seperation, just to offset the overly antagonist qualities of my protagonist? This guy is goofy but pathetic and bad at times and I worry that with the drug use the climax might be a bad idea and maybe I should make it more "softer".
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Boo_Radley said:Check out the comment I edited into my last post.
That's the thing, the script has been done 2 months. I've rewritten it the last few weeks, and still loved most of the script, just needed to be more "movie" like which i've pretty much accomplished by now, although i will tweak it a few more times.
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Not to argue, as you are right in many respects, but all those movies you mention, drugs are not the story, just part of it.
Of course it's all in the presentation. From Gonna's post it seems the drug and its effects to the Protag is the story
Of course it's all in the presentation. From Gonna's post it seems the drug and its effects to the Protag is the story
Joe Calabrese said:
No, it's his desperation to be with her is the main drive of the story, and his drive to get back with her after the fight. The drug use etc is just a subplot IMO that complexes the story and adds comic relief. He doesn't originally start out drug addicted, she introduces it to him.
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